CANADIAN CANOE CULTUREstream

The Ontario Sea Kayak Centre (OSKC) is proud to announce its fifth annual Women on the Water Festival. In partnership with Wild Women Expeditions, the event offers skill sessions taught by some of Canada’s most decorated and experienced female paddling…

This is not your traditional marathon event. In the toughest single-day expedition paddling race in the world, canoes, kayaks and paddleboards traverse two rivers systems, three lakes and 20 portages. It’s a total of 130 kilometers in less than 24 hours. No…

It’s a warm fall day in my hometown of Toronto. The sounds of sidewalk life, traffic and streetcars filter through the door of the cafe where I meet Diana Lee and Janna Van Hoof. Over lattes we discuss their shared passion and the city’s hot, new summer…

Wild Adventures Canada offers three-day all-inclusive trip packages through Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario. You can take a family canoe adventure, a classic canoe adventure as well as an exclusive guided adventure. If you want to do more than canoeing,…

“The sap is still running,” beams Mike Ranta as he licks his finger clean of the sticky, sweet ooze. Canada’s modern-day voyageur is windbound in a spruce swamp on the edge of Cedar Lake, Manitoba. Windy days have been a theme on this trip, which is Ranta’s…

Timmins, Ontario is home of one of the greatest paddling festivals around, The Great Canadian Kayak Challenge and Festival. Over the past 10 years, what started off as a small paddling festival, has grown into city-wide festival that celebrates the impact…

I’m sitting under a tarp in the pouring rain, just smiling. I’m lit up with a pure spontaneous happiness I can’t really explain. Except I’m ecstatic to be right here, under my tarp that’s capably keeping the rain off my head, looking out at the water drops…

Ontario's Lake Country in Simcoe County is an excellent destination for paddling. The only problem is that none of the paddling routes in this region were documented. So, in partnership with Simcoe County, Lake Country created a book of 10 paddling routes.…

Red Lake Outfitters runs canoe trips in the heart of Boreal Forest, out of Red Lake in Woodland Caribou Provincial Park. One new trip is the Safari Trip, a six-day all-inclusive trip. The trip begins with a 28-mile boat ride across Red Lake to see the amazing…

Have you been hungry to start a local canoe or kayak program? New president of the Ontario Recreational Canoeing and Kayaking Association (ORCKA), Dale Radin, has built the perfect tool to get your dream off the ground. A lot of organizations want to start…

For paddlers who want to go canoe camping, Algonquin Provincial Park is the perfect destination. Access points along the highway 60 corridor can be extremely popular during the season, so Algonquin Outfitters’ Randy Mitson has some advice for canoeists…

In the spring of 2017, Canadian brothers Jim and Ted Baird emerged from the wilds of Vancouver Island. For more than two months, they’d survived off the land, sustaining themselves on a wriggling supply of eels, limpets and slugs. Stranger still, they’d…

Organizers billed it as the most intense standup paddling event in the world. Thirty-two of the world’s best paddlers, 15- foot swell, and $50,000 in prize money. On October 20, 2017, SUP’s top athletes battled for the largest purse in the sport at the second…

In 1885, James W. Woods began supplying canvas tents, sleeping bags and clothing to lumbermen working in the Ottawa Valley—home of Paddling Magazine. The Woods brand, relied upon by early explorers, pioneers, adventurers and outdoorsmen, has recently been…

As a wildlife photographer shooting in remote locations accessed by paddle, I have to rely on a small collection of camera equipment. It’s limited to what I can fit in front of me in the canoe. Regardless of trip length, I bring the same gear every time. I’m…

This past August, I found myself puddling around the harbor in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. I was on a standup paddleboard painting the hull of a ship called the Polar Prince. And there came on the wind the unmistakeable cough of a de Havilland Canada…

Alex Traynor and Noah Booth are up-and coming video bloggers who call themselves the Northern Scavengers. When I loaned these two weekend warriors one of my canoes for their latest big trip in the far north, I insisted they take one of my lightweight and…

Certainly you’ve heard the well-worn trope, “We learn from our mistakes.” It is the mantra of experiential learning. That we learn something from mistakes is taken as fact, and justifies a wide range of trial-and-error approaches to everyday life. However,…

Last week, we shared the strikingly gorgeous trailer for The Canoe. This week, we get to share the entire film. Goh Iromoto, the filmmaker known for The Path of Grey Owl, and We Belong To It, now brings us a spectacular nod to our nation's most treasured…

Goh Iromoto’s filmmaking paired with James Raffan’s tremendously scripted words of reflection make this short film a natural fit for the Reel Paddling Film Festival. The Canoe is a powerful film highlighting the nation’s history while looking towards our…

Northern Ontario's Wabakimi Provincial Park is the largest wilderness paddling area in the world. It's bigger than Quetico, the Boundary Waters, Voyageur National Park and Woodland Caribou combined, according to Wabakimi Canoe Outfitters' Bruce Hyer. Last…

It’s just an ordinary beaver lodge—a dome-shaped mass of sticks plastered with mud. It’s situated on a small pond, halfway down the Wakimika River in northern Ontario’s famed Temagami wilderness. Five of us, floating in three canoes, gather round with cameras…

It’s hard to be humble about our home when the spring thaw begins and paddlers from every corner of the Earth trickle into the Ottawa Valley. Three hours from New York’s northern border and two hours west of Canada’s capital city, the Ottawa Valley is nestled…

The bows of our sea kayaks part clear waters. A jumble of boulders lurks beneath, descending from the cobble beach ahead. To our left a rock face plunges into the depths, gripped by tenacious old cedars and gnarled pine, permanently bent against the…

At Canoecopia 2016, Tom from the Madawaska Kanu Centre shares the highlights of paddling the Madawaska River. It's such a great place to paddle, more and more paddlers are making the drive from Madison, Wisconsin to the Ottawa Valley in Ontario. Some of the…

Northwestern Ontario is an area about the size of France with only about one person per square mile. For wilderness experiences you can't do any better. John discusses the amazing paddling opportunities between Wawa and the Manitoba border, and from Minnesota…

Learn to turn your canoe easily and quickly with the cross-bow draw technique. Chad Casey at The Lodge at Pine Cove (frenchriver.com) in French River, Ontario shows off this stroke that can be used by solo paddlers or a tandem team.

Discover the 1,200-kilometre canoe trail that runs from Thunder Bay to the Manitoba border in northern Ontario. Carrie Nolan from Path of the Paddle Trail thru-paddled the route last year and tells publisher Scott MacGregor all about the new trail in this…

Every paddler and camper should know how to make a fire when the weather turns wet and nasty. Jason Marleau from Algonquin Bound Outfitters (algonquinbound.com) just south of Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, shares his top tips for getting a fire going…

Larry breaks down the most common questions from prospective rafting clients at the Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show: What gear do I need to bring? What if I'm not a strong swimmer? How dangerous is it? Do I need experience? Can I take my kids? Larry shares the…

Learn this recovery stroke to brace your kayak. With these fast and helpful tips and progressions from Dympna Hayes and James Roberts of the Ontario Sea Kayak Centre (ontarioseakayakcentre.com) in Parry Sound, Ontario, you'll be bracing like a pro in no time.…

Scott MacGregor catches up with Randy Mitson in the Algonquin Outfitters booth at the Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show to discuss Ontario's most beloved tripping paradise.One of the most common questions Randy hears is, "What's the best place to go in…

Solo your canoe so you can strike out on your own adventure or just become a more skilled paddler in general. Francis Boyes of Smoothwater Outfitters (smoothwater.com) in Temagami, Ontario, offers his top tips to become a skilled soloist. Discover which…

Whether paddling your canoe tandem or solo, the J-Stroke will allow you to paddle in a straight line. Francis Boyes of Smoothwater Outfitters (smoothwater.com) in Temagami, Ontario, shares some expert tips to help you with your J-stroke and control your canoe.

Learn the best way to get in and out of your kayak with these tips from Dympna Hayes and James Roberts from the Ontario Sea Kayak Centre in Parry Sound, Ontario (ontarioseakayakcentre.com). Learn how to protect yourself, your paddle and you kayak while…

Watch the gorgeous short film that inspired the feature story in the Spring 2016 issue of Canoeroots magazine, "The Owl in the Pines." This film follows world renowned woodsman Ray Mears through the wilderness of Temagami, Ontario in Canada as he explores the…

Learn to rescue a runaway boat with Thea Froehlich from the Madawaska Kanu Centre (owl-mkc.ca/mkc). This is an essential skill for anyone paddling continuous rivers where a swim could lead to loss of gear or a long and difficult hike out.

Learn the Canoe-Over-Canoe Rescue Technique to right an overturned canoe on your next camping trip—an essential skill for any paddler. Erik Fenkell from Temagami Outfitters show you how to perform a T-rescue with this simple step-by-step approach. Find more…

Efficiency is key when packing your kayak for a wilderness trip. Let Aria Kooy from Parry Sound, Ontario's White Squall Paddling Centre share her expert advice. Learn how to protect your clothing and gear from moisture, make best use of space and how to…

Bombproof your kayak roll in whitewater with these tips from Thea Froehlich, guest instructor at the Madawaska Kanu Centre (owl-mkc.ca/mkc).Rolling is simple once you understand it's a combination of hip movement and a sequence of placements of your paddle.…

Paddle farther with less effort. James Roberts and Dympna Hayes of Parry Sound's Ontario Sea Kayak Centre (ontarioseakayakcentre.com) share their top tips for going the distance without getting tired. Use this efficient forward stroke on your next afternoon…

Learn the safest and most efficient way to get your canoe on your shoulders. Canoe tripping guide Erik Fenkell, an experienced guide at Temagami Outfitters (www.icanoe.ca) in Temagami, Ontario, shows you how.

Dogs love fresh air and adventure just as much as we do. Whenever I start getting my gear ready, Daisy watches my every move with hopeful eyes. She can’t wait to get outdoors and have some fun. Luckily, Ontario is full of dog-friendly destinations. RUFFSTIC…

Nestled between condo buildings, bridges, roads and bike paths that lead to Ottawa’s bustling downtown core—just moments from the capital city’s Royal Canadian Navy Monument, War Museum and National Library—is a 19th century limestone pumphouse water station.…

Craig jiggles the handle and elbows the rickety, wood-panelled door. From my paddling buddy’s devious glance I know in a few moments we’ll be inside the cupola of the tallest, most remote lighthouse on the Great Lakes. I dig out a Swiss Army knife from my PFD…

“If I were to paddle with a carbon fiber blade I think I’d develop a palsy,” Ray Mears tells me as he carefully axes another chuck from a six-foot tall cedar board. We’re camped by the shore along the southern edge of Wabakimi Provincial Park’s sprawling…

Paddle farther and faster with less effort using these expert SUP forward stroke tips from Peter DeMoss at Muskoka Outfitters. Performed well, the SUP forward stroke is an unbeatable, fun core workout. Watch it, then try it! Stay tuned for more great paddling…

James Roberts and Dympna Hayes of Ontario Sea Kayak Centre demonstrate the essentials for a quick and effective scramble—aka Cowboy or Cowgirl—sea kayak re-entry. If you've exited your kayak, the scramble self rescue will get you back in your boat in almost…

We knew Poplar Rapids could give us some trouble. Driving in the van we discussed the continuous 800-meter entry feeding over an eight-foot horseshoe falls fanning out over a shallow ledge with most of the water bending around against the left bank. At lower…

Brian Pettinger from White Squall Paddling Centre shares his tips and techniques for making smooth and quick turns using this simple, stationary kayak stroke. Turning with a bow rudder is especially effective at speed, when you need to change course to avoid…

Learn to make a great backcountry coffee the old-fashioned way for your camping adventures. This technique, often called cowboy coffee, has been used by wilderness travellers for generations. You'll need: a good pot with sturdy hand, pair of sturdy gloves and…

Edging is a basic kayaking skill. When mastered, it allows you to gain incredible control and keep yourself upright in increasingly difficult whitewater. Kirstin Trudeau from the Madawaska Kanu Centre shows us how to use edging to balance our boats and gain…

James Roberts from Ontario Sea Kayak Centre shows you how to do controlled, graceful sculling braces in your kayak. Sculling for support is a key sea kayak foundational skill. Sculling with your paddle gives you terrific blade awareness and is especially…

Rich Swift from Algonquin Outfitters describes some of the essentials for packing for a three-day canoe trip and how best to carry them. Stay tuned for more great paddling skill videos, including canoeing, kayaking and whitewater techniques, brought to you in…

Brian Pettinger from White Squall Paddling Centre shares his step-by-step basics for making smooth and efficient low brace turns in your kayak. Turning with a low brace adds support to your turns in rough water, and increases the speed and grace of your edged…

The low brace is an essential tool to keep you upright in your open canoe. Stef McArdle from the Madawaska Kanu Centre shares expert advice to help you master the technique. Stay tuned for more great paddling skill videos, including canoeing, kayaking and…

John Langford at Voyageur Quest demonstrates two strokes that will have your canoe traveling in a straight line—the Goon stroke and the J-stroke—and discusses the benefits of each. Stay tuned for more great paddling skill videos, including canoeing, kayaking…

Stef McArdle from Madawaska Kanu Centre shares her top tips for turning your kayak with a sweep stroke. Stay tuned for more great paddling skill videos, including canoeing, kayaking and whitewater techniques, brought to you in partnership with Rapid Media and…

Brian Pettinger from White Squall Paddling Centre shares his top tips for holding a dynamic and stable edge in your kayak, increasing your comfort, balance and maneuverability on the water. Plus, edging is just plain fun! Stay tuned for more great paddling…

Gord Baker from Algonquin Outfitters shares his top tips for setting up a bombproof tarp shelter on your next canoe camping trip that will protect you from the elements. Watch it now! Stay tuned for more great paddling skill videos, including canoeing,…

1. “It’s astonishing just how sophisticated these kayak designs are,” says Canadian Canoe Museum curator Jeremy Ward, gesturing to a wall of elegant Greenland kayaks. “If you look at the influences of these very traditional forms on contempo- rary touring…

About

We invite you to discover the Canadian Canoe Culture in Ontario. Paddling, whether it’s in a canoe, kayak, raft or SUP, offers possibilities for deep and meaningful connections, adventures and learning. In a world that is increasingly disconnected, paddling brings you back to some of those basic rhythms - that feeling of being connected to the natural world and yourself. It provides the opportunity to shape, define and nurture who and what we are. Join in the conversation by using the hashtag #PaddleON.